OFF THE BEATEN PATH

OFF THE BEATEN PATH Bud Logan

ELK FALLS

PROVINCIAL PARK

Elk Falls is located just west of Campbell River on the Gold River Highway. It has a great many trails for hiking, picnicking, and over 200 individual campsites along the Quinsam River. The Quinsam Campsite provides great riverside camping in the heart of a world-renowned fishing area; the Quinsam River, with its great trout fishing, running right by the campground.

After a morning meal at your campsite in the beautiful forest, you could pack a picnic lunch and head up the Canyon View Trail. Just 3km from the campground, you will reach the Elk Falls day use and picnic area. This area contains many easy walking trails and, of course, an incredible cascading waterfall that gives this park its name. The upper falls and the day-use areas are located just below the dam on John Hart Lake.

Hiking trails also lead to other areas in the park, which are home to a large and wonderful stand of old-growth Douglas Fir. The trails that lead along the canyon offer up some great photo opportunities along with breathtaking views of the river far below.

Elk Falls Provincial Park is home to a wide variety of birds. Great blue herons, killdeer, ravens, crows, chestnut-backed chickadees, and eagles are among the most abundant resident bird species, but you can also see western tanagers, golden-crowned kinglets, barred owls, red-tailed hawks and other avian visitors. Mammals include black tail deer, black bears, cougars, and Roosevelt elk as well as shrews, squirrels, voles, raccoons, otters, muskrat and beaver. A beaver dam and pond are located west of the campground on the Beaver Pond Trail.

In 2015, a new suspension bridge opened to the public. The bridge is built over the falls, and gives you some incredible views—it is a must-see for everyone.

So for some awesome camping, hiking or fishing, head out to Elk Falls Provincial Park and see what this part of the Island has to offer. Don't forget your camera!

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